The Missouri Budget Project is a public policy research organization based in St. Louis that advocates on fiscal and economic issues in the state of Missouri. While the organization claims to be unbiased in its research, it is listed on the Action Network and supports left-of-center policy positions. ¹ The organization has also received support from several left-of-center foundations. ²

The Missouri Budget Project supported the $1.9 trillion federal spending bill called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and it opposed permanent tax cuts proposed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R). ^{3 4}

Advocacy

Opposition to Tax Cuts

The Missouri Budget Project opposed tax cuts backed by Governor Mike Parson (R) that the governor projected would save Missouri taxpayers more than $700 million. ⁵ The governor proposed these tax cuts, which reduced the state income tax to 4.95 percent from 5.3 percent, after the state had a $4.9 billion budget surplus for the 2023 fiscal year. ⁶

The Missouri Budget Project claimed that these tax cuts reduced government services and only benefited wealthy Missourians. ⁷

The tax cuts were enacted by the state legislature and signed by Governor Parson on October 5, 2022. ⁸

Support of the American Rescue Plan

The Missouri Budget Project supported the $1.9 trillion federal spending bill backed by the Biden administration known as the American Rescue Plan. According to the organization, the bill provided $2.7 billion in fiscal support to the state. The Project said the funding gave Missouri a “once-in-a-lifetime chance” to “address preexisting economic disparities and set our state up for a future that provides greater opportunity for us all.” ⁹

People

Amy Blouin is the President and CEO of the Missouri Budget Project, which she founded in 2003. ¹⁰ She previously worked as director of advocacy for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and as a lobbyist for the United Way of Greater St. Louis. ¹¹

The Missouri Budget Project has nine staff and 12 members on its board of directors. ¹²

Funding

In 2020, the Missouri Budget Project had $1,063,417 in revenue and $874,109 in expenses. ¹³ In 2019, the organization had just over $1.2 million in revenue and over $1 million in expenses. The Missouri Budget Project is a 501(c)(3) organization. ¹⁴

According to its 2020 annual report, the Missouri Budget Project receives funding from several left-of-center grantmakers, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Ford Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. ¹⁵

1. Action Network. “Missouri Budget Project.” https://actionnetwork.org/groups/missouri-budget-project. Accessed September 18, 2022
2. Missouri Budget Project. “Missouri Budget Project Funding (2020).” https://www.mobudget.org/annual-report/#swipebox. Accessed September 19, 2022.
3. Missouri Budget Project. “American Rescue Plan.” https://www.mobudget.org/federal-issues/american-rescue-plan/#:~:text=Our%20state%20has%20a%20once,every%20community%2C%20no%20matter%20the. Accessed September 18, 2022.
4. Adkison, Michael. “Parson’s proposed tax cuts benefit wealthiest Missourians, analysis finds.” CBS 13 KRCG, August 26, 2022. https://krcgtv.com/news/local/parsons-proposed-tax-cuts-benefit-wealthiest-missourians-analysis-finds
5. Adkison, Michael. “Parson’s proposed tax cuts benefit wealthiest Missourians, analysis finds.” CBS 13 KRCG, August 26, 2022. https://krcgtv.com/news/local/parsons-proposed-tax-cuts-benefit-wealthiest-missourians-analysis-finds.
6. Cunningham, Meg. “Missouri’s newest tax cut will help the wealthy, but provide little for middle-income families.” NPR KCUR 89.3, October 6, 2022. https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2022-10-06/missouris-newest-tax-cut-will-help-the-wealthy-but-provide-little-for-middle-income-families.
7. Cunningham, Meg. “Missouri’s newest tax cut will help the wealthy, but provide little for middle-income families.” NPR KCUR 89.3, October 6, 2022. https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2022-10-06/missouris-newest-tax-cut-will-help-the-wealthy-but-provide-little-for-middle-income-families.
8. Hancock, Jason. “Missouri governor signs $764 million income tax cut, rural incentives package.” Missouri Independent, October 5, 2022. https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-signs-764-million-income-tax-cut-rural-incentives-package/.
9. Missouri Budget Project. “American Rescue Plan.” https://www.mobudget.org/federal-issues/american-rescue-plan/. Accessed October 8, 2022.
10. Missouri Budget Project. “Staff.” https://www.mobudget.org/staff/. Accessed September 18, 2022.
11. Missouri Budget Project. “Staff.” https://www.mobudget.org/staff/. Accessed September 18, 2022.
12. Missouri Budget Project. “Staff.” https://www.mobudget.org/staff/. Accessed September 18, 2022.
13. ProPublica. “Missouri Budget Project.” https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/260062334. Accessed September 18, 2022.
14. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Missouri Budget Project. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/260062334/202022589349301852/full. Accessed September 18, 2022.
15. Missouri Budget Project. “Missouri Budget Project Funding (2020).” https://www.mobudget.org/annual-report/#swipebox. Accessed September 19, 2022.